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Sheff Utd v Stevenage preview

Date published: Monday 24th August 2015 1:32

Sheffield United will give striker Richard Cresswell until the 11th hour before deciding on his fitness.
Cresswell missed last week’s defeat at MK Dons with a shoulder injury and remains “nip and tuck” for the Blades’ final home game of the season.
Manager Danny Wilson will also be without Ched Evans, jailed for five years last week after being found guilty of rape, while fellow forward Will Hoskins is ruled out with a hernia problem, but the Blades boss has other options.
If Cresswell proves his fitness it is likely he will start alongside Chris Porter, but James Beatttie and Michael O’Halloran, on loan from Bolton, and Danny Philliskirk provide other alternatives.
Defender Marcus Williams is expected back in contention following concussion and midfielder Ryan Flynn is also pushing for a place in the starting line-up.
The Blades, in second place, are one point ahead of Shefffield Wednesday with two games remaining in the race for automatic promotion.
Stevenage boss Gary Smith could name an unchanged side for the fourth straight game.
Three successive wins, including vital back-to-back victories over fellow play-off contenders Carlisle and Brentford, have moved Boro back into the top six as Smith stuck with the same XI that thrashed Yeovil 6-0 away a fortnight ago.
Smith made a half-time change against Brentford last weekend though and Joel Byrom, who came on for Stacy Long, may have done enough to force his way back into the starting line up.
Midfielders Jennison Myrie-Williams and John Mousinho and strikers Chris Beardsley and Jordan Slew will also be hoping for recalls.
Ahead of the evening kick-off on Saturday, Smith told the media: “It has been a difficult time for them recently – losing Ched Evans and the defeat last week [away at MK Dons].
“It is a good time to be playing them as, not being in their camp of course, what you have to consider is how the press and the stories [concerning Evans] have affected the rest of their group.”